Nagys to Miss First Eight Games of Season

Nov. 21, 2002

Clemson forward Tomas Nagys will miss the first eight games of the 2002-03 season due to his involvement in an NCAA secondary violation. The senior from Lithuania will play his first game against Coastal Carolina on December 31, 2002.

The action was taken as a result of his use of an athletic staff member’s long distance telephone access code. He used the code without permission to make phone calls over several months earlier this year. As part of his condition for reinstatement, Nagys has repaid the value of the phone calls.

“I regret that this happened,” said Nagys. “All of the phone calls were made to my family in Lithuania. We had some family issues that needed to be addressed. I accept the NCAA’s ruling and look forward to rejoining our team on December 31.”

Nagys is permitted to practice with the Tigers during the period he will be held out of games. “We regret that this situation has occurred,” said Clemson Head Coach Larry Shyatt. “We have addressed it with the NCAA and taken corrective action for these secondary violations. The NCAA has accepted our findings. This is now behind us. What is in front of us is a senior who needs just four hours in the spring semester to graduate with his class. He will have a very positive impact on our team on and off the floor this year.”

Nagys is a veteran of 83 games in his Clemson career, nine as a starter. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last year when he played in all 30 games as a reserve. One of three scholarship seniors on the Clemson team this year, he finished his junior season with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance against Florida State in the ACC Tournament in Charlotte.